Actors Kyra Sedgwick, left, and Jon Cryer announce the nominees for Outstanding Drama Series for the 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, in Los Angeles, Thursday, July 19, 2007. The Emmy Awards will be held on Sept. 16 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

An undated handout photo shows actor August Schellenberg (L) in a scene from the HBO mini-series 'Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee'. The show received 17 Primetime Emmy nominations, the most for any program, as nominations were announced for the 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards show in Los Angeles July 19, 2007. The will be presented in Los Angeles September 16, 2007. REUTERS/HBO/Handout (UNITED STATES). EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. NO ARCHIVES. NO SALES.

Photo: HO

An undated handout photo shows actor August Schellenberg (L) in a...

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This photo, supplied by HBO, shows actors Tony Sirico,left, James Gandolfini,center, and Steven Van Zandt, in a 2000 season episode of the HBO cable television series, "The Sopranos." The mob series that went to its grave with a shockingly inconclusive finale this year, found a happy ending Thursday, July 19, 2007, with 15 Emmy nominations including for best drama, which were announce in Los Angeles.(AP Photo/HBO, Anthony Neste)

Photo: Anthony Neste

This photo, supplied by HBO, shows actors Tony Sirico,left, James...

Tim Goodman on the Emmy nominations -- better, but what about 'The Wire'?

2007-07-19 13:52:26 PDT -- It's best to examine the Emmys calmly, since the normal reaction to nominations from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is to have your head blow into tiny fragments. Given that, the best that can be said about nominations for the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards, announced Thursday, is that they are a vast improvement over the embarrassing disaster of last year.

To take it one step further, embracing positivity, some of the tinkering in the way the nominations are made has resulted in an overall improvement in quality and, according to the folks at the Emmys, a 60 percent increase in "fresh faces and shows" over last year.

The most glaring example of how woefully unresponsive the nomination process still is to the entirety of television (the emphasis this year seems to be on what was popular as opposed to what was brilliant, though the two strands did meet fortuitously on some occasions) is the omission of the best show on television. If you don't nominate the best show on television, then there's a gigantic problem that needs to be addressed -- right after the Emmy voters stop congratulating themselves on how much the process has improved thanks to their tireless efforts and desire not to be torched with embarrassment as they were last year.

"The Wire," on HBO, is the best series on television, period, and though it's wonderful that the Emmys have sent "The Sopranos" into the sunset with 15 well-deserved nominations, it does not for a minute excuse the egregious oversight of "The Wire."

But if you're in the mood to forgive or, barring that, to accept the soul-crushing idea that it's just not going to happen for "The Wire," having never been nominated in four seasons, then maybe we can stick with our slightly more upbeat theme this year and casually note, along the way, several other oversights.

Before dissecting the major categories, a few general observations.

It's good that last year's best drama winner, "24," wasn't even nominated this year. The argument on of "24" -- at least on this end -- was always that it was a guilty pleasure and no more, and winning awards for its rampant stupidity was a disservice to television. Nice to see that rectified, though nominating Kiefer Sutherland for best actor was, let's not kid ourselves, just asinine.

To have "Lost" get virtually snubbed this year is also mystifying, since it overcame a slow start to finish with an incredible season. Of course, this is as good a place as any to note that the reason the Emmys remain flawed is that Emmy voters base their decisions on one episode only, then partake in a popular vote that elevates the top 10 shows in a selected category. Those top 10 shows are winnowed into the five nomination slots by additional votes, weighted 50-50 on behalf of the voting base and a "blue-ribbon" panel of apparently more dedicated and enthusiastic members.

The idea was to avoid unforgivable and beyond-shameful lapses, such as last year's nomination of Ellen Burstyn in "Mrs. Harris" even though she was onscreen for all of 14 seconds. Yes, seconds. That proved conclusively that Emmy voters weren't watching, just ticking off familiar names. The "blue ribbon" panel was also supposed to correct the situation of mythology-heavy serials, like "Lost," that are at a disadvantage in the one-episode-entry system. Ironically, "Lost" wasn't nominated in this improved year.

On to the major categories to survey the good, the snubbed and the inexcusable.

Drama series: "Boston Legal" (ABC), "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC), "Heroes" (NBC), "House" (Fox) and "The Sopranos" (HBO). This is, by far, the category with the most wrongs. First, it showcases how the Emmy voters can't make up their minds on whether nominees should be based on popularity or quality. That "Boston Legal" and "Grey's Anatomy" were even considered is a joke. Entertaining fluff, sure. But not Emmy worthy. Missing from this category are "The Wire," "Deadwood" (both on HBO), "Dexter" (Showtime), "Rescue Me" and "The Shield" (both on FX) and "Battlestar Galactica" (Sci-Fi). Now it's pretty clear here that Emmy voters snubbed cable and leaned on the networks. But even then, why not put something like "Lost" or "Friday Night Lights" in there instead of "Boston Legal"?

Comedy series: "Entourage," (HBO), "The Office" and "30 Rock" (NBC), "Two and a Half Men" (CBS) and "Ugly Betty" (ABC). A strong argument can be made that "Extras" (HBO) and "Weeds" (Showtime) are glaring oversights -- and they are -- but there's less to quibble with here. This is a strong category, and the inclusion of "30 Rock" shows some foresight.

Lead actress in a comedy series: Felicity Huffman, "Desperate Housewives" (ABC); Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (CBS); Tina Fey, "30 Rock"; America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty" (ABC); and Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds." Do you sense a trend here? It's as if the Emmy voting process almost works. Outside of Sarah Silverman, whose audacious star turn in her Comedy Central series was snubbed, there's very little to raise the hackles here. This is a very strong category, where in years past it was dismal.

Supporting actor in a drama series: William Shatner, "Boston Legal"; T.R. Knight, "Grey's Anatomy"; Masi Oka, "Heroes"; Michael Emerson, "Lost"; Terry O'Quinn, "Lost"; and Michael Imperioli, "The Sopranos." Perhaps this is a good time to exhale. It's certainly the perfect time to suggest that this is proof that the Emmys still misses, "blue ribbon" panel or not. Nobody from "The Wire," nobody from "Deadwood," nobody from "The Shield" or "Rescue Me" or "Battlestar Galactica" etc. etc. etc.

Now, if we're willing, even for argument's sake, to allow that cable comedies are often so far under the radar that their exclusion is understandable, while powerhouse cable dramas absolutely can't be ignored, then you have to wonder why this whole category isn't littered with cable entries. Sad, really, because the best work is being done there. Shatner and Knight? It just doesn't make sense.

Supporting actress in a drama series: Rachel Griffiths, "Brothers & Sisters"; Katherine Heigl, Chandra Wilson and Sandra Oh, all from "Grey's Anatomy"; and Aida Turturro and Lorraine Bracco from "The Sopranos." Though this is entirely too much attention for "Grey's Anatomy," just so you don't think there's a knee-jerk cable bias here, why include Bracco? She was barely in "The Sopranos." A better argument could be made for CCH Pounder on "The Shield," Katee Sackhoff on "Battlestar Galactica" or Callie Thorne or Andrea Roth from "Rescue Me." Way too many network actresses here.

Supporting actor in a comedy series: Kevin Dillon and Jeremy Piven, "Entourage"; Neil Patrick Harris, "How I Met Your Mother"; Rainn Wilson, "The Office"; and Jon Cryer, "Two and a Half Men." A righting of the ship here, though once again the snub of John C. McGinley from "Scrubs" makes no sense at all and one day Terry Crews from "Everybody Hates Chris" will need to get his due.

Supporting actress in a comedy series: Jaime Pressly, "My Name Is Earl"; Jenna Fischer, "The Office"; Holland Taylor and Conchata Ferrell from "Two and a Half Men"; Vanessa Williams, "Ugly Betty"; and Elizabeth Perkins, "Weeds." They managed to cram six in this category and still forget Tichina Arnold from "Everybody Hates Chris." Otherwise, a pretty good lineup.

Overall, this is a significant improvement in the nominating for the Emmys (which will air at 8 p.m. Sept. 16 on Fox), and maybe that's all we should ever hope for from this bunch. It's just disheartening that among the standard oversights is the unacceptable omission of the towering artistic achievement that is "The Wire."